IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says "the likelihood of war in the north is higher than before."
Speaking to troops in northern Israel, during a drill simulating an offensive in Lebanon, Halevi says the IDF is "increasing readiness for fighting in Lebanon, we have a lot of lessons from the fighting in Gaza, many of them are very relevant to fighting in Lebanon, and there are some that must be adjusted."
"We want to reach a very clear goal in Lebanon, to return the residents to the north, all the communities in the north," he says, referring to some 80,000 displaced Israelis amid the Hezbollah terror group's daily attacks.
"I don't know when the war in the north is, I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past," Halevi says.
"I can tell you that I think we are starting it with many more advantages," he adds.
Speaking to troops in northern Israel, during a drill simulating an offensive in Lebanon, Halevi says the IDF is "increasing readiness for fighting in Lebanon, we have a lot of lessons from the fighting in Gaza, many of them are very relevant to fighting in Lebanon, and there are some that must be adjusted."
"We want to reach a very clear goal in Lebanon, to return the residents to the north, all the communities in the north," he says, referring to some 80,000 displaced Israelis amid the Hezbollah terror group's daily attacks.
"I don't know when the war in the north is, I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past," Halevi says.
"I can tell you that I think we are starting it with many more advantages," he adds.
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Two Hamas operatives attempting to launch mortars at troops in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah were struck by an aircraft, the IDF says, releasing footage of the strike.
It says that an aircraft identified the operatives in an area from which rockets were fired at Israel this week, and struck them as they prepared to fire mortars at troops
In southern Gaza's Rafah, the IDF says a fighter jet struck a rocket launcher used to fire a rocket toward Israel this morning,
It says that an aircraft identified the operatives in an area from which rockets were fired at Israel this week, and struck them as they prepared to fire mortars at troops
In southern Gaza's Rafah, the IDF says a fighter jet struck a rocket launcher used to fire a rocket toward Israel this morning,
The IDF denies claims by Jordan that its field hospital in southern Gaza's Khan Younis was damaged by Israeli shelling, attaching aerial imagery showing all the tents are intact.
Earlier today, the Jordanian military claimed its military field hospital was badly damaged as a result of Israeli shelling in the vicinity.
In response to a query on the matter, the IDF's Spokesperson's Unit tells The Times of Israel that the military "did not attack the Jordanian hospital in Khan Younis," but that troops were engaged in a gun battle with Hamas operatives in a nearby area.
"There are claims that a medical staff member of the hospital was injured as a result of the shooting. As of now, it is not possible to verify that the injury is the result of IDF troops firing," the IDF says.
The IDF says that before troops entered the area, they were briefed on the hospital and were told that it is "a sensitive place and it is very important for the IDF not to endanger it and its people."
"Therefore, fire was not intentionally directed at" the hospital, the IDF says.
The IDF also says "coordination was carried out between the relevant parties" ahead of the army's operations near the hospital today, in which it instructed the hospital staff to seek shelter.
"The hospital is not damaged and continues to function and provide medical care to those who need it," the IDF says, adding an aerial photo from earlier today, following the alleged incident.
Earlier today, the Jordanian military claimed its military field hospital was badly damaged as a result of Israeli shelling in the vicinity.
In response to a query on the matter, the IDF's Spokesperson's Unit tells The Times of Israel that the military "did not attack the Jordanian hospital in Khan Younis," but that troops were engaged in a gun battle with Hamas operatives in a nearby area.
"There are claims that a medical staff member of the hospital was injured as a result of the shooting. As of now, it is not possible to verify that the injury is the result of IDF troops firing," the IDF says.
The IDF says that before troops entered the area, they were briefed on the hospital and were told that it is "a sensitive place and it is very important for the IDF not to endanger it and its people."
"Therefore, fire was not intentionally directed at" the hospital, the IDF says.
The IDF also says "coordination was carried out between the relevant parties" ahead of the army's operations near the hospital today, in which it instructed the hospital staff to seek shelter.
"The hospital is not damaged and continues to function and provide medical care to those who need it," the IDF says, adding an aerial photo from earlier today, following the alleged incident.
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As fighting intensifies in southern Gaza, IDF troops operating in the Khan Younis area killed some 40 Hamas operatives over the past day, the military says.
In one incident in Khan Younis, the IDF says the 7th Armored Brigade shelled four Hamas gunmen who were approaching the troops.
Also in Khan Younis, the IDF says soldiers of the elite Egoz unit raided the home of a Hamas operative and seized weapons.
Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, where the military is carrying out clear-up operations, the IDF says reservists of the 5th Brigade, using tank shelling, killed two gunmen who attempted to ambush the troops.
Several more Hamas operatives were killed in airstrikes in northern Gaza, the IDF says, indicating that troops are still encountering gunmen in areas it says it has established "operational control."
Also in northern Gaza, reservists of the Yiftah Brigade spotted Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives rigging a car up with explosives and entering a nearby building. The IDF says a short while later, one of the operatives came out the building and was struck by an aircraft. The booby-trapped car was also struck, which the IDF says set off a large secondary explosion.
The IDF adds that in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood, reservists of the 179th Armored Brigade located a cache of anti-tank mines, RPGs, and other military equipment.
In one incident in Khan Younis, the IDF says the 7th Armored Brigade shelled four Hamas gunmen who were approaching the troops.
Also in Khan Younis, the IDF says soldiers of the elite Egoz unit raided the home of a Hamas operative and seized weapons.
Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, where the military is carrying out clear-up operations, the IDF says reservists of the 5th Brigade, using tank shelling, killed two gunmen who attempted to ambush the troops.
Several more Hamas operatives were killed in airstrikes in northern Gaza, the IDF says, indicating that troops are still encountering gunmen in areas it says it has established "operational control."
Also in northern Gaza, reservists of the Yiftah Brigade spotted Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives rigging a car up with explosives and entering a nearby building. The IDF says a short while later, one of the operatives came out the building and was struck by an aircraft. The booby-trapped car was also struck, which the IDF says set off a large secondary explosion.
The IDF adds that in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood, reservists of the 179th Armored Brigade located a cache of anti-tank mines, RPGs, and other military equipment.
Troops of the Givati Brigade raided a main stronghold belonging to Hamas's South Khan Younis Battalion, the military says.
The IDF says at the captured "Shuhada Outpost," as well as the offices of the Hamas battalion commander, troops seized many firearms and recovered intelligence documents.
According to the IDF, the stronghold included a training site and offices used by Hamas's South Khan Younis Battalion during the fighting.
The IDF says at the captured "Shuhada Outpost," as well as the offices of the Hamas battalion commander, troops seized many firearms and recovered intelligence documents.
According to the IDF, the stronghold included a training site and offices used by Hamas's South Khan Younis Battalion during the fighting.
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The IDF says fighter jets carried out strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon's Odaisseh.
It also says troops struck areas in Kafr Kila and Marjaayoun, presumably to foil planned Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.
The IDF says two projectiles were fired from Lebanon at the Arab al-Aramshe area earlier today, which both landed in open areas, causing no damage.
It also says troops struck areas in Kafr Kila and Marjaayoun, presumably to foil planned Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.
The IDF says two projectiles were fired from Lebanon at the Arab al-Aramshe area earlier today, which both landed in open areas, causing no damage.
Footage from Eilat appears to show an interception took place
The IDF says it launched an interceptor missile at a "suspicious aerial target" that was heading toward Israeli airspace from the Red Sea.
Sirens were activated in Eilat due to the interceptor missile launch. The IDF says the incident is over, and there are no fears of a security incident.
Sirens were activated in Eilat due to the interceptor missile launch. The IDF says the incident is over, and there are no fears of a security incident.
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The IDF says it is continuing a counter-terror operation in the West Bank's Tulkarem refugee camp, which began more than 35 hours ago.
So far, it says engineering vehicles have uncovered dozens of explosives hidden under the roads, searched hundreds of buildings, and arrested 15 wanted Palestinians.
The IDF says troops also seized many weapons during the raids, and destroyed an explosives lab and a building used by local terror operatives to observe Israeli forces with surveillance cameras.
Eight Palestinian gunmen have so far been killed during clashes with IDF troops in the camp, the military says, some of them in an airstrike yesterday.
In other areas of the West Bank, the IDF says troops arrested 21 wanted Palestinians in overnight raids.
Since October 7, troops have arrested more than 2,700 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,300 affiliated with Hamas, according to the IDF.
So far, it says engineering vehicles have uncovered dozens of explosives hidden under the roads, searched hundreds of buildings, and arrested 15 wanted Palestinians.
The IDF says troops also seized many weapons during the raids, and destroyed an explosives lab and a building used by local terror operatives to observe Israeli forces with surveillance cameras.
Eight Palestinian gunmen have so far been killed during clashes with IDF troops in the camp, the military says, some of them in an airstrike yesterday.
In other areas of the West Bank, the IDF says troops arrested 21 wanted Palestinians in overnight raids.
Since October 7, troops have arrested more than 2,700 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,300 affiliated with Hamas, according to the IDF.
Mannie's War Room
The IDF says it launched an interceptor missile at a "suspicious aerial target" that was heading toward Israeli airspace from the Red Sea. Sirens were activated in Eilat due to the interceptor missile launch. The IDF says the incident is over, and there are…
The IDF says the incident in Eilat was a false alarm.
"This is a false identification," the IDF says, adding that sirens sounded in the city after an interceptor missile was fired.
"This is a false identification," the IDF says, adding that sirens sounded in the city after an interceptor missile was fired.
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The IDF says it has completed demolishing Hamas’s main rocket and weapon manufacturing industrial zone in the central Gaza Strip, along with a vast tunnel network beneath it that houses some of the facilities.
Parts of the facility were shown to reporters, including yours truly, during a media tour earlier this month on Salah a-Din road in the Bureij area.
The IDF says troops located additional sites recently, in the Maghazi area, and between Bureij and Nuseirat.
In all, the 36th Division, the Yahalom combat engineering unit, and Air Force’s Shaldag unit discovered and destroyed dozens of tunnel shafts in the area of Salah a-Din road in central Gaza, that connect to hundreds of kilometers of underground passages, according to the IDF.
One of the tunnel shafts was located in the home of a senior Hamas commander responsible for the rocket manufacturing operation.
The IDF says the tunnels led to underground sites used by Hamas to manufacture rockets and other weapons, as well as passages used by the terror group to transport munitions to all parts of Gaza.
Both above and below ground in Maghazi, Bureij, and Nuseirat, the IDF says it discovered steel workshops, chemical and explosives factories, and storage sites for long-range rockets.
Parts of the facility were shown to reporters, including yours truly, during a media tour earlier this month on Salah a-Din road in the Bureij area.
The IDF says troops located additional sites recently, in the Maghazi area, and between Bureij and Nuseirat.
In all, the 36th Division, the Yahalom combat engineering unit, and Air Force’s Shaldag unit discovered and destroyed dozens of tunnel shafts in the area of Salah a-Din road in central Gaza, that connect to hundreds of kilometers of underground passages, according to the IDF.
One of the tunnel shafts was located in the home of a senior Hamas commander responsible for the rocket manufacturing operation.
The IDF says the tunnels led to underground sites used by Hamas to manufacture rockets and other weapons, as well as passages used by the terror group to transport munitions to all parts of Gaza.
Both above and below ground in Maghazi, Bureij, and Nuseirat, the IDF says it discovered steel workshops, chemical and explosives factories, and storage sites for long-range rockets.
Mannie's War Room
The IDF says it has completed demolishing Hamas’s main rocket and weapon manufacturing industrial zone in the central Gaza Strip, along with a vast tunnel network beneath it that houses some of the facilities. Parts of the facility were shown to reporters…
IDF infographic of the sites
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant cautions that Israel must "take into account the possibility of the [security] situation deteriorating in the north," amid Hezbollah's daily attacks from Lebanon.
"If this happens, we will exact a heavy price from Hezbollah and Lebanon, but there will be casualties here as well," Gallant says during an assessment.
Gallant says Israel is committed to returning some 80,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel, but "if this scenario does not happen... through diplomatic means, we will reach a situation where we need to create the security conditions that allow their return."
"I don't want to talk about deadlines, and I don't want to talk about methods, but it will happen," he vows.
On Gaza, Gallant says "Hamas is becoming weaker. It doesn't have supplies, it doesn't have personnel reserves, it doesn't have the organizational ability to initiate moves, and it doesn't have the ability to really control what happens."
"Hamas's plans were to fire hundreds of rockets every day into all kinds of areas in the country. It now manages to launch dozens of rockets in a sort of one-off attack at a certain location. I do not underestimate this, it is a very significant thing and we will [deal with this capability] with raids, with airstrikes, it will take time," he adds.
"If this happens, we will exact a heavy price from Hezbollah and Lebanon, but there will be casualties here as well," Gallant says during an assessment.
Gallant says Israel is committed to returning some 80,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel, but "if this scenario does not happen... through diplomatic means, we will reach a situation where we need to create the security conditions that allow their return."
"I don't want to talk about deadlines, and I don't want to talk about methods, but it will happen," he vows.
On Gaza, Gallant says "Hamas is becoming weaker. It doesn't have supplies, it doesn't have personnel reserves, it doesn't have the organizational ability to initiate moves, and it doesn't have the ability to really control what happens."
"Hamas's plans were to fire hundreds of rockets every day into all kinds of areas in the country. It now manages to launch dozens of rockets in a sort of one-off attack at a certain location. I do not underestimate this, it is a very significant thing and we will [deal with this capability] with raids, with airstrikes, it will take time," he adds.
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The IDF says it carried out further strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon today.
It says sites hit by fighter jets in Aitaroun and Odaisseh included rocket launch positions and other infrastructure belonging to the terror group.
The IDF says it hit several more Hezbollah launch positions in southern Lebanon, including a building used to fire anti-tank missiles at the Menara area yesterday.
Hezbollah fired several missiles and rockets today at Shtula, Malkia, Menara and Mount Dov. The IDF says it struck the launch sites.
It says sites hit by fighter jets in Aitaroun and Odaisseh included rocket launch positions and other infrastructure belonging to the terror group.
The IDF says it hit several more Hezbollah launch positions in southern Lebanon, including a building used to fire anti-tank missiles at the Menara area yesterday.
Hezbollah fired several missiles and rockets today at Shtula, Malkia, Menara and Mount Dov. The IDF says it struck the launch sites.
Incoming rocket sirens sounding in the southern Golan Heights community of Yonatan